Previous Issues

Senate Bill 55 in Alaska, currently referred to the Health and Social Services Labor and Commerce committee, would allow the Board of Optometry to adopt regulations related to the prescription and use of pharmaceutical agents. Revisions would allow the practice of optometry services within the scope of the licensee's education, training and experience as established by regulations adopted by the Board and prohibit optometrists from performing invasive surgery. The revisions remove specific hour requirements for continuing education but instead allow the Board to determine CE requirements.

Both the House and the Senate in Kentucky have approved a bill to exempt natural hair braiders from cosmetology licensing requirements. None of Kentucky's cosmetology schools include natural hair braiding in their curriculum. The bill now goes to the governor for approval.

The Medical Board of Australia is implementing revised standards for continuing professional development and recency of practice for medical practitioners. The revised standards will come into effect on October 1, 2016. The revisions to CPD standards apply mainly to medical practitioners with provisional or limited registration and requires that their CPD is linked to their training position or supervision plan. Changes to the recency of practice standard require medical practitioners to practice within their scope of practice for a minimum amount of time each registration period, including those who are currently practicing infrequently or have had a recent absence from practice, however there are separate requirements for those who don't meet the standard but wish to return to practice.

Legislation signed into law in Nebraska amends the Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology and Body Art Practice Act to exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements. The bill passed the legislature with a unanimous vote. Nebraska becomes the 16th state to have no licensing requirements for hair braiders. Fifteen states require a specialty license, and 20 states require hair braiders to obtain a cosmetology license.

The Vermont legislature is calling for a panel to study issues related to overlapping police forces and the need for a disciplinary system for officers accused of professional misconduct. The study would consider whether police officers should be regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation.

The General Medical Council's Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has banned a doctor from practicing after she was found guilty of deliberately giving misleading and dishonest evidence as an expert witness. The cases specifically dealt with infant deaths and Shaken Baby Syndrome, a condition of which the doctor denies the existence. The tribunal argued that the doctor's conduct in the cases was "of a morally culpable nature" that could negatively impact the reputation of the profession and did not meet the high standards of accuracy and objectivity required of doctors acting as expert witnesses.

A proposal approved by the New York State Board of Regents to allow individuals who cannot obtain legal residency due to their parents' immigration status to apply for professional licenses is facing political pressure. Those who oppose the bill are urging people to sign a petition against it during the public comment period. The legislators speaking against the new regulation are citing the separate issue of New York not allowing reciprocity for military personnel and their spouses to obtain a license in New York. A bill is currently being considered in the Senate to address licensing of military spouses.

More than 6,000 medical students, residents and faculty are petitioning the National Board of Medical Examiners to eliminate the Step 2 CS patient care skills exam, which they claim is a costly "waste of time." The role-playing exam is meant to test students ability to interview patients and interact with them during the physical exam. The exam is only offered in five cities, and so requires costly travel for many students. With 96% of students passing on the first attempt, students also claim that the exam is not an effective measure of skills and does not reflect the realities of interacting with patients. The NBME maintains that it is necessary to test patient care skills as part of the licensing process, and some medical schools rely on the exam results to determine that they are adequately teaching patient care skills.

A recently published report on health profession regulation in Cambodia suggests that "many key functions for health professional regulation are not being performed in Cambodia." The five regulatory councils for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and midwifery conducted self-assessments, and researchers found conflicts of interest, a weak complaints system, and over 50%of practitioners being unregistered. The report also raises concern about the lack of a license renewal system to ensure continuing competence. The United States Agency for International Development Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, in partnership with the five councils and the Ministry of Health, is currently underway to identify strengths and weaknesses and construct a five-year strategy for health profession regulation.

Amendments to the Mental Capacity Act in Singapore introduced professional donees and deputies, individuals appointed to make key decisions on behalf of the mentally incapacitated. The courts will also have the authority to revoke Lasting Power of Attorney in cases of suspected exploitation. Several Ministers called for further regulation and a training program to ensure that individuals entrusted with these decisions are suitable.